PUTRAJAYA, 20 Jan 2009: Umno’s negative image and the attitude of its leaders, which is not seen to be people-friendly, are among the reasons for the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) defeat in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election last week.

In admitting this, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said as such, the party must change its culture and image so that it could win the hearts of the people.

Umno leaders at all levels must put up a positive and people-friendly image, he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of the agreement on the Restructuring of the Negeri Sembilan Water Supply Services at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.

“The people gauge Umno from what they see in their relationship with the Umno leaders at all levels,” he said.

He said this when asked to comment on the statement by Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that Umno needed the “wow” factor to regain the people’s support following the defeat in the by-election.